University of Waterloo radicalization expert had 'extended conversations' with Aaron Driver - Action News
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Kitchener-Waterloo

University of Waterloo radicalization expert had 'extended conversations' with Aaron Driver

Amarnath Amarasingam, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Waterloo, says Aaron Driver was "definitely radicalized," but said he was speechless to learn that he had been shot and killed by police.

University of Waterloo expert says Aaron Driver 'definitely radicalized'

Aaron Driver died Wednesday following a confrontation with police in Strathroy, Ont. (Facebook)

Radicalization expert Amarnath Amarasingamsaid he was "speechless" following the shooting death of Aaron Driver.

Driver, 24, was killed by police in Strathroy, Ont., Wednesday. Police said he was planning an attack within 72 hours in an urban centre and had recently made a "martyrdom video."

"At the moment, I'm speechless,"Amarasingamtweeted.

Amarasingam is a post doctoral fellow at the University of Waterloo andhad spoken to Driver for his research. The most recent email he received from Driver was on April 17.
Amarnath Amarasingam is a Fellow at The George Washington University's Program on Extremism. (Amarnath Amarasingam)

"I'm doing very well," Driver wrote. "Weather is beautiful, plenty of good frineds, work is going great. I'm always busy, which is nice. I don't like to sit around too much and waste time."

Amarasigamsaid Driver "was definitely radicalized and was not shy about his belief that the caliphate was legit."

He said Driver was "nuanced" on his views of violence and the recent violence during Ramadan and similar videos made by other "lone actors" may have led to him to go from just expressing his views to action.

Read more of his comments below.